What Was Martha So Upset About? | Brian Brophy

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-was-martha-so-upset-about/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Martha must have been really excited for Jesus to arrive. Luke 10:38 says she welcomed Jesus into her home. This has led some scholars to believe that Martha was the oldest and she managed the household. It’s no wonder she was busy trying to serve food and make Jesus and his friends comfortable. How would you like to entertain at least 13 people in your living room on short notice? Martha responds by going to work—and later seems to be rebuked for it! But what if this story isn’t so much about work versus worship, but about anxiety, honor, and who is allowed to sit at Jesus’ feet? In the ancient world that this story comes from, women were under tremendous social pressure to present a well-ordered home. When a visitor came to your home, the level of hospitality you showed was tied to your family’s honor. Martha would remember that in Genesis 18 her ancestor Abraham had begged strangers to stay and eat. She would recall that he quickly told Sarah to prepare cakes for the men to eat while he washed their feet as they rested. She would recall that Abraham’s nephew Lot provided shelter and protection for these same men when they visited Sodom in chapter 19. The words of Job might even come to her mind when he said, “No stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler” (Job 31:32, NIV). Likewise, Proverbs 31 is dedicated to the virtues of a woman who keeps her household in perfect order, bringing honor to her family. And as if that wasn’t enough, the wider Greco-Roman world taught that how well a woman ordered her house was foundational to the social structure and economy of the entire country. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW